Part Two
THE passage of the tax bill at the Lower House is set against several political controversies that have almost created a severe divide among lawmakers.
Such threat of fissure casts a grim pallor over the legislative agenda of President Duterte, who is grappling with a deadly antidrug campaign and terror attacks.
Nonetheless, despite strong oppositions, another controversial measure the lower chamber was able to rally on was the revival of the death penalty.
Voting 216-54-1 in March, the House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 4727. The bill, also called “An Act Imposing Death Penalty on Certain Heinous Crimes”, repeals for the purpose Republic Act (RA) 9346, or “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines”, and further amends the Revised Penal Code and Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The passage of HB 4727, which was included in the list of priority bills, was controversial, as Pantaleon D. Alvarez removed a deputy speaker and several committee chairmen who voted against the passage of his pet bill.
However, Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay believed that the Duterte administration has already lost interest in reviving the death penalty in the country.
“The administration may have already come to terms with the reality that it is now impossible for anybody to be executed via a court order throughout President Duterte’s tenure, simply because, at best, it takes around five years for any potential [death-penalty] case to go through due process of law,” he said. “And his term also ends in five years.”
Duterte has publicly said he intends to send hundreds of convicts to the gallows once Congress reintroduces the death penalty. The death penalty was abolished in 2006.
“Owing to lack of time, the President won’t get to have his show after all,” Atienza added. “So it seems that the administration is no longer keen on producing the show.”
The bill reviving the death sentence was passed by the House in March. But Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said the measure is already “dead” in the Senate, where at least 13 members are committed to vote against it.
Atienza said there is now no chance at all that the return of death verdicts would be enacted this year.
According to the lawmaker, both Congress and the Senate would be preoccupied with the proposed General Appropriations Act for 2018 from August to December.
Bicameral committees
THE bicameral committee reports ratified by the House before it went on adjournment sine die last week are HB 4767 and Senate Bill (SB) 1365.
The latter, “An Act Extending the Validity of the Philippine Passport”, seeks to amend for the purpose Section 10 of RA 8239, otherwise known as the “Philippine Passport Act of 1996”. The bill seeks to prolong the validity of passports to five years for minors aged zero to 17 years old; and to 10 years for passports of adults aged 18 years old and above.
Other bicameral committee reports ratified by the House of Representatives are HB 5225 and SB 1277, or “An Act Mandating the Provision of Free Wi-fi Internet Access in Public Areas”.
HB 5225 mandates the government, including local government units (LGUs) and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), to install broadband hot spots in public areas that will provide a stable and reliable wireless Internet connection.
Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago of Kabataan, one of the principal authors of the bill, said “this is a step toward the realization of a #BetterInternet”.
“We expect to take further steps toward democratizing access to the Internet, to propel the economy and consequently increase access to information, once this is signed into law,” Elago added. “This will help in fighting misinformation and public manipulation. In addition, free public Wi-fi access involves improving and transforming the physical infrastructure of our network systems.”
For his part, Alvarez said the free Wi-fi bill has been ratified and is only awaiting Duterte’s signature.
“When it becomes law, it will further empower the Filipino people in using information and communications technology as they go about with their daily lives,” Alvarez added. “This ensures the success of Filipinos in a data-driven world”.
Mothers, students
OTHER bicameral committee reports ratified by the House of Representatives are HB 5159 and SB 1353, or “An Act Strengthening the Provision of Emergency Health Care Service to Patients, Further Amending for the Purpose Batas Pambansa Bilang 702”, As Amended, entitled “An Act Prohibiting the Demand of Deposits or Advanced Payments for the Confinement or Treatment of Patients in Hospitals and Medical Clinics in Certain Cases”.
Alvarez said the weak points of the law have been remedied to protect “the weakest of our society at a time when they are most vulnerable”.
“Mothers who are about to give birth and patients who are rushed to the emergency room will be administered the required medical care and attention,” Alvarez added. “The PhilHealth [Philippine Health Insurance Corp.] shall shoulder all the expenses advanced by hospitals for emergency care given to poor and indigent patients”.
Other bicameral committee reports ratified by the Lower House are HB 5633 and SB 28, or “An Act Promoting Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education by Providing for Free Tuition and Other School Fees in State Universities and Colleges and State-Run Technical-Vocational Institutions, Strengthening the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education”.
According to Alvarez, “taking heed of the timeless lesson that education is key for a nation to prosper and progress, higher education provided by our state universities and colleges will now be more affordable for all. This bill has been ratified. All that it requires is the signature of the President”.
To be concluded
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza